A recap of Saturday's 24-23 loss to Iowa at Kinnick Field in Iowa City, Iowa

PENN STATE NOTEBOOK

November 09, 2008|By Mark Wogenrich Of The Morning Call

INTO THE WIND

Penn State's opening script called for quarterback Daryll Clark to come out throwing and quickly shake the rust from his week off and the concussion he sustained at Ohio State. Head coach Joe Paterno said the staff debated changing plans when his team opened the game playing offense into a 25-mph wind but decided against it.

Instead, both he and quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno blamed execution for the opening three-and-out series. Clark was pressured, and hit, on each play, and the series ended with Clark recovering his own fumble near the goal line.

"Both of those passes [on first and second down] should have been complete, but [Clark] got hit as he was throwing," Jay Paterno said. "We had problems with protections."

As an addendum, Joe Paterno said that the staff also debated having the wind at their backs for the fourth quarter but instead chose to take it for the third and try to "put it away" then. "We didn't get the job done," the head coach said.

MISSED CHANCES

At one point in the first half, Penn State had run 33 plays to Iowa's five. And ultimately, the Lions scored just 13 first-half points.

The most troubling series might have been Penn State's second, which covered 19 plays, 71 yards and nearly 10 minutes but ended with just a field goal. The Lions had six snaps inside the 10-yard line, gaining a total of 6 yards. Running back Evan Royster gained 90 yards on a season-high 26 carries but also had a season-high 17 in losses. On that series, he had three carries for minus-5 yards inside the 5-yard line.

"I'm surprised we did hold them to that number of points," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "I wouldn't have guessed that, quite frankly."

WILDCAT

Penn State ran the "Wildcat" offensive formation seven times, with receiver Derrick Williams taking the direct snap and Clark lined up wide. Williams ran six times (once for a touchdown) and threw once, completing a 23-yard pass to Mickey Shuler. It was designed to keep Clark from running the ball and, in turn, getting hit.

LOST IN THE SHUFFLE

Kevin Kelly set the Big Ten record for field goals with his 24-yarder in the first quarter. Kelly has 75 career field goals, topping the former record of 72 by Ohio State's Mike Nugent. He also has made field goals in a school-record 30 consecutive games. Deon Butler made three catches, tying Bobby Engram's school record for career receptions (167). Defensive end Josh Gaines left the game in the third quarter because of a left ankle injury. Safety Drew Astorino did not play in nickel situations because of a broken thumb. Guards Rich Ohrnberger and Stefen Wisniewski switched sides. Paterno said Wisniewski has been injured and he wanted Ohrnberger playing against Iowa defensive tackle Mitch King.